dick2

The third sense of this word was formerly considered to be taboo and it was labelled as such in previous editions of Collins English Dictionary. However, it has now become acceptable in speech, although some older or more conservative people may object to its use

Word Origin

C16 (meaning: fellow): from the name Dick, familiar form of Richard, applied generally (like Jack) to any fellow, lad, etc; hence, C19: penis

Whittington

/ˈwɪtɪŋtən/

noun

1.

Richard, known as Dick. died 1423, English merchant, three times mayor of London. According to legend, he walked to London at the age of 13 with his cat and was prevented from leaving again only by the call of the church bells

button

/ˈbʌtən/

noun

1.

a disc or knob of plastic, wood, etc, attached to a garment, etc, usually for fastening two surfaces together by passing it through a buttonhole or loop

2.

a small round object, such as any of various sweets, decorations, or badges

3.

a small disc that completes an electric circuit when pushed, as one that operates a doorbell or machine

4.

a symbolic representation of a button on the screen of a computer that is notionally depressed by manipulating the mouse to initiate an action

5.

(biology) any rounded knoblike part or organ, such as an unripe mushroom

6.

(fencing) the protective knob fixed to the point of a foil

7.

a small amount of metal, usually lead, with which gold or silver is fused, thus concentrating it during assaying

8.

the piece of a weld that pulls out during the destructive testing of spot welds

9.

(rowing) a projection around the loom of an oar that prevents it slipping through the rowlock

10.

(Brit) an object of no value (esp in the phrase not worth a button)

11.

(slang) intellect; mental capacity (in such phrases as a button short, to have all one's buttons, etc)

12.

(informal) on the button, exactly; precisely

verb

13.

to fasten with a button or buttons

14.

(transitive) to provide with buttons

15.

(transitive) (fencing) to hit (an opponent) with the button of one's foil

"fellow, lad, man," 1550s, rhyming nickname for Rick, short for Richard, one of the commonest English names, it has long been a synonym for "fellow," and so most of the slang senses are probably very old, but naturally hard to find in the surviving records. The meaning "penis" is attested from 1891 in Farmer's slang dictionary (possibly British army slang). Meaning "detective" is recorded from 1908, perhaps as a shortened variant of detective.

Meaning "point of the chin" is pugilistic slang, by 1921. A button as something you push to create an effect by closing an (electrical) circuit is attested from 1840s. Button-pusher as "deliberately annoying or provocative person" is attested by 1990 (in reference to Bill Gates, in "InfoWorld" magazine, Nov. 19). In the 1980s it meant "photographer."

v.

late 14c., "to furnish with buttons;" early 15c., "to fasten with buttons" (of a garment,) from button (n.) or from Old French botoner (Modern French boutonner), from boton (n.). Related: Buttoned; buttoning. Button-down (adj.) in reference to shirt collars is from 1916.

[perhaps fr the nickname Dick, an instance of the widespread use of affectionate names for the genitals; perhaps fr earlier British derrick, ''penis''; perhaps fr a dialect survival of Middle English dighten, ''do the sex act with,'' in a locution like ''he dight her,'' which would be pronounced ''he dicked her'']